Born into the Yoruba ethnic group and practicing Islam, Tinubu hails from southwestern Nigeria. He relocated to the United States in the mid-1970s, where he got various jobs while pursuing his college education.

In 1979, he attended Southwest College (now Richard J. Daley College) and later Chicago State University, where he earned a B.S. in business and administration. His studies primarily focused on accounting, and he was employed as an accountant with several U.S. consulting firms.

Returning to Nigeria in the 1980s, Tinubu worked for Mobile Oil as an auditor, eventually advancing within the company. He married Oluremi Tinubu in 1987 and is a father of six children.

Tinubu's political journey began with his election to the Lagos West senate seat in 1992 under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Following the commencement of Nigeria's presidential election in 1993 and Gen. Sani Abacha's rise to power, Tinubu joined the pro-democracy movement, specifically the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). He faced imprisonment for his activism and subsequently went into exile in 1994, returning after Abacha's demise in 1998.

In 1999, Tinubu, now affiliated with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party, clinched the governorship of Lagos state, securing reelection in 2003. His tenure was marked by fiscal reforms, notably in tax collection, and infrastructure projects to alleviate traffic congestion. After leaving office in 2007, he gained prominence as a political influencer, earning the epithet "political godfather" for his role in endorsing and supporting candidates. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in founding the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 and backing Muhammadu Buhari's successful presidential bids in 2015 and 2019.

Tinubu's wealth and alleged involvement in corruption, including accusations of drug trafficking, have drawn scrutiny. Despite facing allegations, he has not been formally charged and denies any wrongdoing.

With Buhari's term limits approaching, Tinubu emerged as the APC's presidential candidate for the 2023 election. Amid concerns regarding his age, health, and campaign messaging, he faced criticism over his choice of a Muslim running mate. The election, held on February 25, saw Tinubu declared the winner by Nigeria's electoral commission despite reports of irregularities and a low voter turnout of 27 percent. Eventually, he won the presidential election in 2023.

© johnogunnubi